Terminal setting machine



E. E. MElLsTRUP 2,768,763

TERMINAL SETTING MACHINE oct. 3o, 1956l 4 vSheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 27, 1950 Zwile 'Zai/7%,

Oct. 30, 1956 E. E. MEILSTRUP 2,768,763

TERMINAL SETTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 27,y 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 30, 1956 E. E. Ml-:lLsTRUP 2,768,763

TERMINAL SETTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 27, 1950 l 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 30, 1956 E. E. MEILSTRUP 2,768,763

TERMINAL SETTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 27, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United Statesl Patent C) TERMINAL SETTING MACHINE Emil E. Meilstrnp, Winston-Salem, N. C., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 27, 1950, Serial No. 186,976

21 Claims. (Cl. 218-2) This invention relates to swaging or riveting machines and more particularly to. a pneumatically actuated terminal feeding apparatus and safety guard` for such machines. l

An. object of this invention is to provide a mechanism for automatically feeding terminals to a riveting or swaging machine in a step by step movement.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a safety device wherein the swaging or riveting machine is actuated only when a safety guard is moved into, protecting position thereby preventing injury to the machine operator.

In accordance with oneembodiment of the invention, an apparatus is provided for feeding terminals to a resilient split collet anvil which is positioned below the swaging head of the machine. The feeding apparatus is actua-ted by two pneumaticoperating devices, one of which rotates an indexing plate from a feeding station` to a delivery station, and a second of which vertically transfers a terminal from the; indexing plate to the split collet upon completion of a single indexing movement. The machine alsoincludes a transparent guard member which substantially surrounds the swaging head when moved into operative position. The guardis actuated by a pneumatic cylinder having an exhaustport positioned with respect to the cylinder piston so that the exhaust port is opened when the piston is moved to its lowermost position, at which position the guard' is adjacent the anvil; The exhaust port is directly connectedy tothe operating cylinder of the riveting or swaging machine so that the machine can only be energized to move the head into contact with the anvil after the guard has beenmoved into position adjacent the anvil.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fronty elevational view of ariveting or swaging machine with a feeding and safety apparatus therefor embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2l is a fragmentary side elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1,;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the feeding apparatus taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1 showing the details of a table for carrying terminals and ay pneumaticdevice for indexing the table;

Fig; 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the feeding apparatus taken alongl line 4-4 in Fig. 3 showing la split collet for holding the terminals to be swaged;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fronti sectional view of the feeding apparatus taken along line 5*-5 in Fig. 3 showing a pneumatic device for transferring terminals from the indexing plateto the split collet;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial front sectional view taken along line 6-6,in,Fig., 3 showing Ithe details ofthe table indexing mechanism; l

Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial front sectional.V View taken ICC along line 7 7 in Fig. 3 showing a ball means fork lock ing the table in predetermined position;V

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the indexing plate;

Fig, 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a terminalsecured by the collet in swaging position adjacent a safety guard and a swaging head;

Fig. 10 isa schematic diagram of the pneumatic control system for the riveting or swaging machine embodyingl the invention;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 1 1-11 in Fig. 1 showing means for manually adjusting `the position of the safety apparatus; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 12-12 in Fig. 2 showing a piston and piston, rod for moving the safety guard.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numbers designate the same element throughout the several views, and more particularly to Fig. l of the drawings, a base member 20 is positioned on a supporting benchstructure 21. An upper portion of the base 20 supports a pneumatic cylinder 22 having an operating piston rod 23 actuated thereby. A swaging head 24. (Fig. 2)` is secured to a lower extremity of the piston rod 23.

A frame supporting arm 25 secured to the base member 20 and extending'substantially at right angles thereto supports; a terminal magazine indicated generally as 26. The magazine includes a, fixed hopper 27 having an agitating means- (not shown) therein which is rotated by a handle 2 8k and a shaft- 29. The shaft 29 is journalled in a bushing Sti in the arm 2S. The agitating means feeds individual terminals all (Fig. 9)l through a slot in the bottom of the hopper 27 to a terminal feeding chute 41 so. thatV thel terminalsV all. slide down the chute in a predetermined oriented position. The chute 4l isv connected to a transparent plastic tube 42 which feeds the terminals 40 in their predetermined positions to a turret terminal receiving stationindicated generally as 43-in Figs. 2 and 4.

The base member 20. is provided with a cavity 45 wherein is secured the terminal feeding, turret device shown in detailed sectional views in Figs. 3, 4, 5 andv 6. A pair of complementary bracket members 46 and 47 are secured together by dowel pins 48 (Fig. 4) so as to form a composite supporting member for an indexing plate or turntable 49. The brackets. 4,6 and 47 are secured' to the lower surface of thebase member 20 within the cavity 45 by a plurality of bolts 5 0. A dowel shaft 60 which is, journalled at an upper end thereof in an aperture in the, base member 20 and which` rests upon the upper surfaces of both of the brackets 46 and 47 extends through the center of' rotation of the indexing plate 49 to provide a Vrotatable support therefor.

A plurality of shouldered slots 61 in the outer periphery ofthe indexing plate 49 areA adapted to receive and secure in a predetermined oriented position a plurality of terminals 4t) placed in position therein by the transparent tube 42v as shown, in Figs. 4. and 8. The slots 61 are equally spaced, around the periphery of the plate 49 and' it is obvious that any number. of slots 61 could be provided'.

Each of the slots 6l in the indexing plate- 49 is rotated from the terminal receiving station 43 to a delivery sta tion indicated generally as 62 (Figs. 2 and 4) by a pneuf mati'coperating device 63 which is secured to a right angle bracket 674 mounted on the base member A20 by a plurality of bolts 65V. An operating piston rod 66 ofthe pneumatic `device 63. extends through a bushing 67 (Fig. 6V) in the base member Ztl and a slot 68 in the brackets 46 and 47 so that a pawl 69 which, is urged upwardly by a spring 70 engages one of a plurality of circularly arranged indexing notches` 8,0 formed in the lower surface of the plate 49 (Fig. 8). Each of the notches 8,0 is'po`si tioned with respect to a single terminal carrying slot' 61 so that each reciprocation ofthe piston rod 66 advances another terminal slot 61 into alignment with the tube 42 at the receiving station 43 (Fig. 4).

When compressed air is applied to the pneumatic device 63, the piston rod 66 is moved from right to left in Fig. 6 so that the spring pressed pawl 69 engages one of the notches 80 to rotate the plate 49 so that a slot 61 containing a terminal 40 is moved from the terminal receiving station 43 and the next succeeding slot 61 is moved into alignment with the terminal feeding tube 42. The release of the air pressure in the pneumatic device 63 permits a spring (not shown) mounted inside of the device 63 to return the piston rod 66 to its normal position. As the piston rod moves to the right in Fig. 6, the pawl 69 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction against the action of the spring 70 until it becomes flush with the lower surface of the indexing plate 49 and remains in this position until the next succeeding indexing notch 80 is reached. At this time the spring 70 urges the pawl 69 in a clockwise direction to engage the notch 80.

A plurality of concave depressions 81 are positioned in the upper surface of the plate 49 so as to coincide with the positioning of the slots 61 (Fig. 3). A ball 82 positioned in a recess 83 in the lower surface of the base member is urged by a spring 84 (Fig. 7) into engagement with the depressions 81 and since the depressions 81 are positioned adjacent the slots 61 the ball 82 serves to retain the indexing plate 49 in aligned position with the terminal feeding tube 42.

The terminal delivery station 62 (Fig. 4) is displaced 180 from the terminal receiving station 43 so that each time a slot 61 is moved into alignment with the tube 42, another slot 61 carrying a terminal 40 is moved into alignment with the terminal delivery station 62. The station 62 includes a swaging anvil having a resilient split collet 85 (Figs. 4 and 9) which is secured in position in an aperture 86 in base member 20 by a threaded retaining collar 87.

A pneumatic operating device 88 (Figs. l and 2) is secured to a lower extremity of the bench member 21 so that a piston rod 89 thereof extends vertically upward in alignment with the split collet 85 and the terminal carrying slot 61 in position at the delivery station 62. When the pneumatic device 88 is actuated, the piston rod 89 moves vertically upward through an opening 90 in the bench member 21 and a hole 100 in the brackets 46 and 47 so as to engage the lower extremity of the terminal 40 in position at the delivery station 62.

v The continuing upward movement of the piston rod S9 forces the terminal 40 up through the resilient fingers of the split collet 85 until shouldered portions 91 of the fingers of `the split collet 85 snap under and engage a ange 92 on the terminal 40 (Fig. 9). The movement of the terminal 40 through the collet 85 places the flange 92 in sliding engagement with the inner surfaces of the collet 85 so that as ange 92 engages the shouldered portions 91, the collet 85 is lifted vertically and the shouldered portions 91 of the collet ngers are cammed outwardly to permit the ange 92 to pass beyond the shouldered portions 91. A machine screw 93 in the collet 85 limits the upward movement of the collet 85 by engaging the lower edge of the collar 87. The initial downward movement of the swaging head 24 forces the outer surface of the collet 85 into engagement with a cam-like surface 94 of the collar 87 so as to force the shouldered portions 91 into closer engagement with the terminal 40 in swaging position. The terminal 40 is retained in this position by the collet 85 after the air pressure is exhausted from the pneumatic device 88 whereupon a spring (not shown) mounted within the device 88 returns the piston rod 89 into the normal unoperated position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 so as to be ready to feed another terminal 40 into the collet 85.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawings, a safety guard assembly, indicated generally as 101, is secured to an upper extremity of the base member 20 by a bracket 102 having two vertically extending slots 103 and 104 therein. A rotatable shaft 105 having a knurled knob 106 secured to the upper end thereof is rotatably journalled in a split bushing (Fig. 1l) on the back surface of bracket 102 so as to allow rotation of the shaft 105 but no vertical movement thereof. A lug 107 (Fig. 2) is slidably movable on the shaft and extends outwardly therefrom through the slot 103 (Figs. 1, 2 and 12) to engage a projecting portion 108 of a collar 109. A threaded lug 110 (Fig. l1) engages a threaded lower extremity 96 of the shaft 105 and extends through the slot 104 to engage an offset portion 120 of a collar 121. The collars 109 and 121 are threaded to engage opposite threaded ends of a cylinder 122. Due to the threaded connection between shaft 105 and lug 110 rotation of the shaft 105 advances the lug 110, cylinder 122 and lug 107 on the shaft 105, which is rotatably mounted in bushing 95 but secured against vertical movement by shoulders 165 and 166 on the rod 105 (Fig. ll), so that the safety guard assembly 101 may be raised or lowered relative to the bracket 102.

An input port 123 to the cylinder 122 is connected to the upper end of cylinder 122 by a pipe 124. An air exhaust port 125 (Fi-gs. l and l2) which extends into the inner cavity of the piston cylinder 122 is connected to the operating cylinder 22 by a flexible air hose 131. A piston 126 (Fig. 12) having a piston rod 127 secured thereto is positioned within the cylinder 122 so as to move between the normal upper position adjacent the collar 109 and a lower position immediately below the exhaust port 125. A pin 128 extends through the piston rod 127 perpendicularly thereto so as to project at either end thereof from the outer surface of the cylinder 122 through two diametrically opposed vertically extending slots 129 and 130 (Figs. 2, ll and l2). The length of the slots 129, 130 determines the distance through which the piston 126 is moved. The pin 128 is held in position by a pair of washers and cotter pin assemblies (Fig. 12). The lowermost end of a coil spring 141, which is positioned within the cylindei 122, engages the collar 121 and the upper extremity of this spring bears against the pin 128. The spring 141 serves to retain the piston 126 in its normal uppermost position and also returns the piston 126 to this normal position when the compressed air is removed from the operating cylinder 122.

A rod 142 secured to an enlarged end portion 143 of the piston rod 127 supports a transparent plastic guard member 144 in position substantially surrounding the swaging head 24 when the piston 126 is in an inoperative uppermost position (Figs. 1, 2 and 12). However, when compressed air is applied to the input air port 123 and enters cylinder 122 to move the piston 126 into its lowermost position adjacent the exhaust port 125, the downward travel of the piston rod 127 moves safety guard 144 to a lower position resting upon a work piece 132 in which terminals 40 are being swaged as shown in Fig. 9. Therefore, when the swaging head 24 is moved into engagement with the terminal 40 in swaging position (Fig. 9), the guard member 144 positioned adjacent the swaging area prevents any possible danger of injury to the machine operator by insuring that the operators hands and any tools are removed from the immediate proximity of the swaging head 24.

Referring now to Fig. l0 of the drawings wherein is disclosed a pneumatic control system for operating the riveting or swaging machine, a foot treadle 145, pivotally mounted on base member 168 by means of pin 169 whereby either or neither of valves 150 and 162 may be actuated by appropriate rotation thereof while simultaneous actuation thereof is prevented, controls the application of air pressure from an air compressor 146 to the various operating devices 22, 63, 88 and 122. When the foot treadle 145 is depressed at the toe or right hand portion, air is applied from the compressor 146 through a valve 147, an air iilter 148, a pressure meter 149, a

valve 150, a speed control valve 1,60. to the operating. device 53. so aste index the table 4.9- threush cae step as previously described in detail. As the piston rod 66 of device 63, reaches its forward position, a rise in the air pressure applied tol pressure responsive valve 161 opens this valve to apply compressed air to the pneumatic operating device 88. The entrance of air underl pressure inte the device 8S, forces the piston red 89 thereof 11P- wardly into engagement with the terminal 40 at the delivery station 62 and transfers this terminal into engagement with the split collet 85. The operator then removes the pressure from the Vtoe portion of the foot treadle 145 thus allowing it to return to a normal horizontal position. In this position valve 150 shuts off the air from the compressor 146 and exhausts the air pressure in both of the operating devices 63 and 88 to atmosphere through exhaust line 163 thereby allowing springs in the devices 6 3 and 88 to return the Piston rods 66 and 89 thereof te the normal. Positien- The operator then places the work piece 132 over the terminal 4t) projecting up out of the collet 85 (Fig. 9) and depresses the h eel or left hand portion of the foot treadle 145 so as to connect compressor 146 through a valve 162 and line 167 to the input port 123 of the operating cylinder 122. The compressed air in cylinder 122 forces piston 126 downward to position the guard 144 over the collet 85. As the piston 126 reaches its lowermost position the exhaust port 125 is uncovered and the air from the compressor 146 is applied through valve 162, line 167, input port 123, cylinder 122, exhaust port 125, and air line 131 to the operating cylinder 22l of the riveting or swaging machine while the operator maintains treadle 145 in its lowered position. This compressed air in cylinder 22 moves the piston rod 23 which in turn moves the swaging head 24 into engagement with the terminal 40 secured in position in the split collet 85 to secure this terminal 40 in position in the workpiece 132. The operator thereupon moves the foot treadle`145 into the normal horizontal position and thus exhausts the compressed air from cylinders 22 and 122 to` atmosphere through exhaust line 1,64 so that the piston rods 23 and 127 are returned to normal position by the operation of the springs associated therewith.

With the foregoing general description in mind, it is believed that the operation of the riveting or swaging machine will now be readily understood.

In order to prepare the riveting machine for operation, the machine attendant places a large number of terminals 40 in the hopper 27. The operator then manually rotates the handle 28 until such time as the transparent tube 42 is lilled with terminals 40 in their predetermined oriented positions. By visual observation, the operator may determine the depletion of the supply of terminals in tube 42 and refill it when necessary by rotation ofthe handle 28 of the hopper 27.

Assuming that there are no terminals 40 in the slots 61, the operator manually depresses the toe portion of the foot treadle 145 four times to actuate valve 150 similarly, each time removing his foot from the treadle so that the treadle will return to the horizontal exhausting positiont VThe four separate actuations of the foot treadle 145 reciprocate the piston rod 66 through four complete Voscillatory cycles so that four slots 61 are filled with terminals 40.`

As the toe portion of the foot treadle 145 is depressed,

opening valve 150 for the fourth time, normal operation begins, that is, the operator this time maintains the treadle depressed whereby the energizationiof pneumatic device 63 moves piston rod 66 to the le'ftin Fig. 6 so as to ad- Vance the table 49 with a slot 61 containing a terminal 4Q into position at the delivery station 62. As the piston rod 6 6 reaches the end of its forward stroke, the gradual 4build-up in `air pressure actuates the valve 161 to admit compressed, air to the pneumatic device 88. The air presin .device 88. fences, piston rod 89 (Fig- 4) upward to engage the lower end of the terminal 4,0A carried in the slot 6,1 now in alignment with the delivery station 62. A continuing upward movement of the piston rod 89 transfers the terminal40 from the slot 61 so that the ange 92 of the terminal 4i) is elevated above the shoulders 91 of the split collet 85 (Fig. 9). rl`he operator then removes his foot from the foot treadle 145 thus permitting it to return to the normal horizontal air exhausting position whereupon the air pressure in pneumatic devices 63 and 88 is reduced to atmosphere. The release of the air pressure in device 63 permits the spring associated with this operating device to return the piston rod 66 to a normal unoperated position and in doing so cams the spring pressed pawl 69 in a counterclockwise direction to move along the bottom of the plate 49 until the next indexing notch is engaged. The release of the air pressure in operating device 88 allows the spring associated therewith to return the piston rod 89; to its normal home position and in doing so4 conditions the indexing plate 49 for another step by step movement.

After placing a previously punched article or work piece 132 over theterminal 40 in swaging position (Fig. 9), the attendant depresses the heel portion of the foot treadle 145 to open valve 162 and thus connects the air compressor 146 to the input port 123 of the safety guard actuating cylinder 122. The increase in air pressure in cylinder 122 forces piston 126 and piston rod 127 downward against the action of the spring 141 so that the guard member 144 is moved into position upon the work piece 132 and over the anvil assembly including the split collet 8,5 and collar 8,7.

As the piston 126 reaches its lowermost position as determined by the length of slots 129, 130, the exhaust port is uncovered so that compressed air is applied through hose 131 to the operating cylinder 22 of the swaging or riveting machine. The entrance of the air under pressure into the cylinder 22 forces the piston rod 23 downward until the swaging head 24 engages the upper portion of the terminal 40. This forces the flange 92 of the terminal 40 down against the shoulders 91, and the split collet 85 down into tight engagement with the collar 87 and thereafter swages over the upper end of the terminal.

When the terminal 40 has been swaged over to rmly secure it in the work piece 132 the attendant removes his foot from the foot treadle thus permitting it to return to the normal horizontal position and thus exhausts the air from the cylinders 22 and 122 so that piston rods 23 and 12'7 are returned to normal position by their associated coil springs.

After the swaging head 24 and safety guard 144 have been returned to their normal positions by exhausting the compressed air from cylinders 22 and 122, the attendant manually lifts the work piece 132 with the swaged terminal 46 secured therein so as to remove the terminal 40 from the split collet 85. The swaging machine is n ow in condition for another complete cycle of operation identical with the one just described.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the invention. Numerous other modications may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. An article feeding device comprising a supporting member, a resilient means secured to` and extending through the supporting member and adapted to position and support an article during a swaging operation, a rotatable table for moving an article into alignment with said resilient means, means to index said table, and means for lifting an article from the table into engagement with and partially through the resilient means whereby the article is held in a predetermined position by said resilient means.

2. An article feeding device comprising a unitary resilient holding means for supporting an article, a holding means supporting member having an opening in which the holding and supporting means is movably mounted, a rotatable means for moving an article below the supporting member and into alignment with the holding means, and means for raising the article into engagement with and partially through the holding and supporting means to secure the article in an intermediate position prior to a work operation.

3. An article handling apparatus comprising an article receiving station, an article delivery station, said delivery station comprising a resilient means adapted to position and support an article during a swaging operation, rotatable means for moving the articles from the receiving station to the delivery station, and means for lifting the articles from the rotatable means and for moving said articles partially through the resilient means so that the articles may be positioned and supported thereby.

4. An article handling apparatus comprising a base, an article receiving station, a work station comprising a resilient split collet mounted on the base, said split collet being adapted to position and support an article during a swaging operation, a rotatable table mounted on the base below the collet, means for retaining a plurality of articles in spaced relationship in the table, means to rotate the table for moving the articles from the receiving station into vertical alignment with the work station, and means for lifting an article from the table and partially through the collet so that said article may be gripped by an upper extremity of the collet and supported in a work position during a swaging operation.

5. A terminal feeding device for riveting machines comprising a rotatable table having a plurality of means for retaining terminals in spaced circular relationship therein, a terminal supply station for positioning terminals in said retaining means, a terminal delivery station including a terminal positioning and supporting means positioned above the table and adapted to position and support a terminal during a swaging operation, means for indexing each retaining means from the supply station into vertical alignment with the terminal supporting means, and means for transferring the terminals to the terminal positioning and supporting means after said terminals are moved into vertical alignment with said supporting means by the indexing table.

6. An article handling apparatus comprising an article receiving station, an article `delivery station, said delivery station comprising a retaining collar and a split collet mounted in the collar, said collet having a plurality of resilient shouldered fingers, a rotatable table for moving the articles from the receiving station into vertical alignment with the delivery station, and means for moving an article from the table into the collet against the resilient action of the fingers whereby the shouldered portions thereof engage the articles to position and support it in the collet.

7. An article processing apparatus comprising a base,

va processing means mounted on the base, a resilient means adapted to position and support an article during a swaging operation movably mounted on the base below the processing means, said resilient means being further adapted to contract about an article to a limited extent as a result of relative movement between the resilient means and the base and thereby to more accurately position and firmly support an article to be processed, an article magazine, a rotatable table mounted on the base below the resilient means to move the articles from the magazine into vertical alignment with the resilient means, means to rotate the table, means for moving the articles to be processed from the table into and partially through the resilient means, and means for moving the processing -means into engagement with the article to first effect relative movement between the resilient means and the 8 base thereby causing the resilient means to contract about the article and subsequently to effect the processing operation.

8. An article processing apparatus comprising a processing means, an article processing station including a supporting member having an opening therein, a retaining collar having a tapered bore, said collar being rigidly mounted in the opening in the supporting member and a resilient shouldered article retaining split collet movably mounted for vertical wedge-like motion in the bore of the collar, said collet having sloping exterior surfaces complementary to the tapered bore in the retaining collar, means for actuating the processing means into engagement with the article in said collet whereby the shoulders of said collet grip the article more firmly when the collet is forced vertically downward into the retaining collar by the article when moved downwardly by the processing means, rotatable means located beneath the supporting member for moving an article to be processed into alignment with the split collet, and vertically reciprocable means for moving the article from the rotatable means into engagement with the shoulders of said collet and to a position above the supporting member.

9. Handling apparatus for flanged articles comprising an article receiving station, an article delivery station, rotatable means located beneath the delivery station for moving the article from the receiving station into vertical alignment with the delivery station, said delivery station comprising a retaining collar, a split collet movably mounted in the collar, said collet having a plurality of shouldered resilient fingers, and vertically reciprocable means for lifting the flanged article from the rotatable moving means into a position of engagement with the resilient fingers of the collet, said engagement of the flanged article with the fingers of the collet serving to cam the fingers outwardly to permit the flanged portion of the article to pass through the shoulders whereupon the resilient fingers snap back to position and support the article in a predetermined position in said collet.

l0. An article feeding apparatus comprising a base member, a collar secured in and extending through an opening in the base member, a split collet movably mounted in the collar, said collet having a plurality of resilient shouldered fingers, rotatable means for moving an article beneath the base member and into alignment with the collet, and vertically reciprocable means for moving the aligned article partially through the collet in sliding engagement therewith, said sliding engagement lifting the collet and camming the fingers outwardly to allow a portion of the article to pass over the shoulders, whereupon the fingers snap into engagement with the article whereby the shoulders position and support said article in said collet against retreat below a predetermined position above an upper surface of the base member.

l1. A riveting machine for securing terminals to an article comprising a rotatable table, said table having apertured portions therein to receive the terminals and notched portions in a lower surface thereof, means for feeding terminals into the apertured portions of the table, means engaging the notched portions for progressively indexing the table to sequentially permit a terminal to be fed into each of the apertured portions, anvil means including a split collet, reciprocating means positioned below the anvil means for feeding a terminal from one of the apertured portions up into and partially through the split collet, means for operating the reciprocating means in accordance with the position of the rotatable table in response to each movement thereof, and swaging means movably positioned above the anvil means so as to sWage an end of each terminal engaged by the collet.

12. A pneumatic terminal feeding apparatus for a riveting machine having a vertically reciprocable swaging head, which apparatus comprises a horizontally rotatable table having a plurality of apertures therein, said table also having a plurality of notches in a lower surface thereof a pneumatic horizontally reciprocable indexing means engaging the notches to index the table step by step, vterminal receiving mea-ns positioned adjacent the table to permit a terminal to be fed into one of the apertures in response to each indexing reciprocation of the indexing means, an anvil including a split collet positioned above the table, a vertically reciprocable means positioned below the table for transferring a terminal from one of the apertures into engagement with the split collet whereby the terminal is in position to be swaged, and means to control the actuation of the vertically reciprocable means by responding to the pneumatic pressure within the indexing means.

13. A pneumatic terminal feeding apparatus for a riveting machine having a vertically reciprocable swaging head comprising a rotatable table having a plurality of apertures therein, said table also having a plurality of notches in a lower surface thereof, a pneumatic reciprocable indexing means engaging the notches to index the table step by step, terminal receiving means positioned adjacent the table to permit a terminal to be fed into one of the apertures in response to each indexing reciprocation of the indexing means, an anvil including a split collet positioned above the table, a pneumatic reciprocable lifting means, and means responsive to a predetermined value of the pneumatic pressure controlling the indexing means to actuate the lifting means for transferring one of the terminals from the table to the split collet whereby the terminal is positioned beneath the swaging head.

14. An article processing machine comprising a base, an anvil assembly mounted on the base, an article magazine secured to the base, means to feed an article from the magazine to the anvil assembly, a guard mechanism adjustably mounted on the base and movable into and out of a protective position adjacent the anvil assembly, a processing head mounted on said base above said anvil assembly and movable into and out of contact with the article to be processed, first valve means to actuate the feeding means, second valve means to actuate the guard mechanism and the processing head, and means for operating said first and second valve means independently only whereby simultaneous operation of said lfirst and second valve means is prevented.

15. A terminal processing machine comprising a base, an anvil assembly mounted on the base, a terminal magazine secured to the base, means to feed a terminal from the magazine to the anvil assembly, a rst reciprocable piston mounted on the base, an anvil guard secured to the first reciprocable piston, said piston being positioned so that the guard is movable into and out of position to shield the working space adjacent the anvil, a second reciprocable piston mounted above the anvil assembly, a processing head attached to the second piston, said second piston being positioned so that the processing head is movable into and out of engagement with the article to be processed, first valve means to actuate the terminal feeding means, second valve means to actuate the first piston and the second piston, and valve operating means adapted to operate said first and second valve means and to prevent simultaneous operation thereof.

16. An article processing machine comprising a base, an article magazine secured to the base, an anvil assembly mounted on the base having an opening therein, said anvil assembly including a retaining collar mounted in the opening and having a split collet movably mounted in the collar, means to deliver an article from the magazine to a position below the anvil assembly, means to transfer the article from said position below the anvil assembly into engagement with and partially through the split collet, a guard reciprocably mounted above the anvil assembly, a first reciprocable means to move the guard into and out of a protective position adjacent said anvil assembly, a processing head mounted above said anvil assembly, a second reciprocable means to move the processing head into and out of contact with the article to be processed in the split collet when the guard issin a protective position, rst valve means to sequentially actuate the delivery means and the transferring means, second valve means to sequentially actuate the first re-A ciprocable means and the second reciprocable means, and valve operating means adapted to prevent the simultaneous operation of said first and second valve means.

17. A work-piece` assembling apparatus comprising a processing means, a work-piece processing station, said processing station including a work-piece supporting member, guard means movable into and out of a position to shield the processing station during processing of a work-piece, means for delivering a work-piece connecting article to said processing station, including means for transferring the article from beneath the supporting member partially through and into engagement with the work-piece supporting member to position and support the article during the processing operation, first valve means to sequentially actuate the delivery means and the transferring means, second valve means to sequentially actuate the guard means and the processing means, and manually operable means for operating said iirst and second valve means and adapted to prevent simultaneous operation of said first and second valve means.

18. A riveting machine for securing terminals to a panel, comprising a base member, an anvil secured to the base member, a terminal magazine, rotatable indexing means mounted below the anvil, means for feeding the terminals from the magazine to the indexing means, means for lifting the terminals from the indexing means to the anvil, a first fluid pressure cylinder adjustably secured to the base and having a first piston operated therein, said indexing means and said lifting means being held inoperative when said first piston is operated, a guard member secured to said first piston and adapted to be positioned adjacent the anvil, a second fluid pressure cylinder secured to the base and having a second piston operated therein, said second piston being positioned directly above said anvil, a swaging head secured to the second piston and conduit means interconnecting said first and second fluid pressure cylinders and having its fiuid receiving end positioned relative to the initial position of said first piston so that the second piston is operated to move the swaging head into Contact with the terminal in the anvil only after the first piston has moved a suflicient distance to uncover said end.

19. A riveting machine for securing terminals to a panel comprising a base member, an anvil secured to the base member, a terminal magazine, a rotatable indexing table mounted on the base below the anvil, a fluid pressure reservoir, a first fiuid pressure cylinder, a first piston slidable in the first cylinder and adapted to actuate the indexing table, terminal lifting means, a second fluid pressure cylinder, a second piston slidable in the second cylinder and adapted to operate the terminal lifting means to lift the terminals from the indexing table to the anvil, valve means to hold the second piston inoperative during actuation of the first piston, a third fluid pressure cylinder, a third piston slidable in the third cylinder, a guard member secured to the third piston and adapted to be positioned adjacent the anvil, a fourth fiuid pressure cylinder, a fourth piston slidable in the fourth cylinder, a swaging head secured to the fourth piston and adapted to perform a swaging operation upon a terminal held in the anvil, conduit means interconnecting the third and fourth cylinders and having its Huid-receiving end positioned relative to the initial position of the third piston such that the fourth piston is operated to move the swaging head into contact with the terminal in the anvil only after the third piston has moved a suflicient distance to uncover said end, means to automatically disconnect the third and fourth cylinders from the fluid pressure reservoir during actuation of the first and second pistons, and means to automatically disconnect the first and second cylinders from the iluid pressure reservoir during actuation of the third and fourth pistons.

20. An article processing machine comprising a base, an article magazine secured to the base, an anvil assembly mounted on the base and having an opening extending therethrough, a split collet mounted in said opening, four fluid cylinders mounted on the base and designated first, second, third and fourth and operative in such order, a piston reciprocably mounted in each cylinder, means to deliver an article from the magazine to a position below the anvil assembly, said delivery means being operated by the iirst piston, means to transfer an article from said position below the anvil assembly into engagement with and partially through said collet, said transferring means being operated by the second piston, a guard mounted on said base and movable into and out of a pro tective position adjacent said anvil assembly and operated by the third piston, a processing head movable into and out of engagement with the article in said collet and operated by the fourth piston when the guard is in protective position adjacent the anvil assembly, a fluid reservoir, conduit means interconnecting the uid reservoir and the four cylinders, valve means for controlling the flow of uid through the interconnecting means into the cylinders, the interconnecting means and the valve means being arranged to actuate the pistons in the cylinders in the above order to safely process the articles.

2l. In an article processing apparatus, a base, an article magazine attached to said base, an anvil assembly secured to said base, two fluid cylinders mounted on said base above said anvil assembly, two fluid cylinders mounted on said base below said anvil assembly, a reciprocable piston mounted in each of the four cylinders, a piston rod attached to each piston and extending beyond each of said cylinders, the two piston rods above, and one below the guard mounted on said base movable into and out of a j protective position adjacent said anvil assembly and operated by one vertically reciprocable piston located above the anvil assembly, a processing head movable into and out of engagement with the article to be processed on the anvil assembly and operated by the second piston mounted above the anvil assembly when the guard is in protective position adjacent said anvil, resilient means to hold all four piston rods in a normally retracted position, a iluid reservoir, conduit means interconnecting the fluid reservoir and the four cylinders, valve means to control the ow of fluid from the reservoir through the interconnecting means to the four cylinders in a predetermined sequence to cause movement of the pistons against the restraint of the resilient means, said interconnecting means and valve means being arranged to actuate the pistons sequentially in the following order: rst, the horizontally reciprocable piston, second, the vertically reciprocable piston located below the anvil assembly, third, the first reciprocable piston located above the anvil assembly, and fourth, the second reciprocable piston located above the anvil assembly to safely process an article.

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